Subjective Career Success (Greenhaus et al.)
HR & WorkReliability: alpha 0.843 sample items
About this scale
A 5-item measure of subjective career satisfaction — the degree to which an individual is satisfied with the success they have achieved in their career, including success with respect to income, advancement, and skill development.
Sample item(s)
“I am satisfied with the success I have achieved in my career.”
“I am satisfied with the progress I have made toward meeting my overall career goals.”
“I am satisfied with the progress I have made toward meeting my goals for the development of new skills.”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: alpha 0.84. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Most cited subjective career-success measure. Pair with objective indicators (salary, promotions).
Source & citation
Greenhaus, J. H., Parasuraman, S., & Wormley, W. M. (1990): Effects of race on organizational experiences, job performance evaluations, and career outcomes. Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 64–86.
Greenhaus, Parasuraman & Wormley (1990): Career satisfaction (5-item). AMJ, 33(1), 64–86.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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